The Best Canon EF Lenses for Bokeh

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If you’re passionate about photography, chances are you’ve fallen in love with bokeh—the beautiful, out-of-focus backgrounds that make your subject pop. For those new to the term, bokeh (derived from the Japanese word for “blur”) refers to the aesthetic quality of the out-of-focus areas in a photograph. It’s not just about blurring the background; it’s about how the lens renders light points, contrasts, and highlights in a smooth, visually appealing way. If you want to dive deeper into the art of bokeh, check out this complete guide to bokeh.

Achieving beautiful bokeh in your photos isn’t just about using a wide aperture (although that helps!). It’s also about finding a lens that balances sharpness for your subject with the ability to render those out-of-focus areas in a visually appealing way. Fast lenses—those with wide maximum apertures like f/1.2, f/1.4, or f/1.8—are typically the best tools for the job. However, not all fast lenses are created equal. Some excel at producing creamy, smooth bokeh, while others may struggle with harsh or distracting out-of-focus areas.

To help you find the perfect lens for your needs, we’ve curated a list of the best Canon EF lenses for bokeh. Whether you’re shooting portraits, landscapes, or wildlife, these lenses will help you create stunning images with that signature bokeh look.

Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM Wide Angle Lens

Wide angle lenses are typically not known for their bokeh or used wide open most of the time, but this is one wide angle which renders bokeh beautifully! The 24mm f/1.4 L II is quite sharp at all aperture settings, and the maximum aperture of f/1.4 makes it perfect for low-light wide angle shots. While not cheap, this lens is perfect for landscape photographers, nature photographers, and travel photographers who want to capture a wide scene with crisp focusing on the subject and the ability to use a very shallow depth of field.

Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM Wide Angle Lens - Fixed - 2750B002 , Black

• Lens not zoomable
• Minimum focus Distance is 0.8ft
• Focal Length -24 mm
• Diagonal angle of view: 84�

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Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM Wide Angle Lens

Functioning as wide angle lens on a full-frame camera and a normal lens on a crop sensor camera, the 35mm f/1.4L lens renders some of the smoothest bokeh you’ll find at this focal length. With a focusing distance of 1 foot, this lens allows you to get up close to your subjects, capturing them in sharp detail while producing a delightfully soft, gently blurred background.

Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM Wide Angle Lens for Canon SLR Cameras - White Box (New) (Bulk Packaging)

• Ring-type UltraSonic Motor (USM)
• Closest focusing distance: 1 foot, The focal length is 35mm
• f/1.4 maximum aperture
• Inner focusing; floating system , aspherical lens , full-time manual focus

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Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM Lens

Everyone needs a fast 50mm lens in their bag, but the question you’ve got to ask yourself is — “How much am I willing to spend?” For the absolute pinnacle of performance, the Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM Lens is the reigning champion with sharp results wide open and absolutely smooth bokeh. It’s also three times as much money as the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Lens, which produces nice bokeh, but isn’t as sharp at it’s maximum aperture. At a price point more than 10 times cheaper than the f/1.2 lens is the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Lens which feels like a toy, but produces very pleasing sharp results with nice bokeh. All three lenses will leave you feeling satisfied with your purchase, but if being able to shoot in ultra low light conditions wide open is your goal and your budget can handle it, the Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM Lens is the most impressive option, rendering some of the nicest bokeh around.

Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM

• Weather-resistant standard lens
• Focal Length & Maximum Aperture-50mm F/1.2, Closest Focusing Distance - 1.48 ft. / 0.45m
• AF with full-time manual focus, 72mm filter size
• Ultrasonic Motor (USM), Lens not zoomable

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Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM Lens

The Canon 85mm f/1.2 L II is one of the most legendary of Canon’s lenses. It’s a heavy, solid lens that weighs more than 2 pounds, but that weight is worth toting around when you see the results from this lens used at its maximum aperture. When you want to isolate your subject from the background, the f/1.2 takes its job very seriously, producing world class results that make it a great choice for the professional portrait or travel photographer. At 1/5th the price of the f/1.2, the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM lens is a good option for those who can’t justify the very high price tag of the massive f/1.2 lens. The f/1.8 produces beautiful bokeh as well and focuses much quicker, but in a maximum aperture showdown…the f/1.2 is the bokeh champion.

Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM Lens for Canon SLR Cameras - Fixed, Black - 2520A004

• Micro UltraSonic Motor (USM),
• 135mm focal length, Closest focusing distance: 3 feet
• Ultra-low Dispersion glass with Fluorite elements; inner focusing ring
• EF mount; telephoto lens; Lens construction (elements/groups) : 10/8

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Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM Lens

Perhaps one of the sharpest among Canon’s L lens lineup, the Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM lens is relatively affordable too. This lens is well constructed and auto-focuses quickly – 135mm is a bit of an unusual focal length for a prime lens, but it’s a good choice for some outdoor sports where a longer telephoto lens ins’t needed and for portraits and travel photography. The bokeh is outstanding on this lens, producing very soft and smooth out of focus areas while keeping your subject tack-sharp.

Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM Lens for Canon SLR Cameras - Fixed, Black - 2520A004

• Micro UltraSonic Motor (USM),
• 135mm focal length, Closest focusing distance: 3 feet
• Ultra-low Dispersion glass with Fluorite elements; inner focusing ring
• EF mount; telephoto lens; Lens construction (elements/groups) : 10/8

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Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM II Super Telephoto Lens

The most expensive lens on this list, the 300mm f/2.8 L lens is one of the best 300mm lens ever made, offering uniformly excellent image quality from corner to corner both wide open at f/2.8 and at smaller apertures. This is an image stabilized lens, meaning that you’ll be able to hand-hold it at fairly slow shutter speeds of only 1/125 second, allowing you to shoot in low light conditions while still getting sharp images. You can increase the focal length even more, while still maintaining great image quality by using the Canon EF 1.4X III Telephoto Extender or the Canon EF 2.0X III Telephoto Extender. The bokeh is soft and smooth, making this a perfect lens for wildlife and outdoor sports photographers who want their subjects to really stand out!

Canon 300mm F2.8 L is II USM EF Lens

• Optical Zoom: 0.18
• Max Focal Length: 300.0
• Package Weight: 14.95 Pounds
• Image Stabilization: 4 Stops Claimed

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